Should you let your dog into your bed?
There’s no better way to reinforce your bond with your pet than by cuddling up at night together. Studies suggest that there are even tangible health benefits for both you and your dog when you let them sleep in your bed.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but we suggest establishing early on what spaces in the house are off-limits for your pet. Going back and forth between when you allow your dog into your bed and when you don’t is sure to confuse them and makes for bad training practices. If you don’t want your dog getting into your sheets, establish those boundaries early on and practice it constantly.
Sleeping with your dog increases comfort and feelings of security.
Sharing a bed with your pup has been shown to decrease insomnia and reduce nightmares (Source: The Bark). Sleeping next to your dog increases your feelings of security and there have even been studies that suggest that the presence of an emotional support animal in bed decreases nightmares in PTSD patients. These studies also found that 74% of pet owners had improved mental health from sleeping next to their dog. The warmth of their bodies and the steady sound of breathing can help you fall asleep and stay asleep more soundly.
Your pup will feel more connected to you.
Creating that bond formed while sleeping next to a pet is not only beneficial for you - it will also improve the experience for your dog. Dogs were found to be easier to train when they slept with their owners because they felt closer to their human companions. This maintains the dominance hierarchy that reinforces a dog’s willingness to be trained or take orders from their owners, mostly coming from a trusting place of feeling protected and cared for.
But how do you keep your bed clean?
As much as we love them, dogs can be dirty and shed. Snuggling up with your pup at night will require a few extra steps to make sure your linens are kept in good shape and don’t cause any negative health effects. LinenFit bed sheets are easy to clean and are specially designed to make sure they go on easily and stay tightly fitted on your mattress. So, don’t stress about mess. Wash them as many times as you want.
All this is to say, don’t let anyone tell you that you should have to subject your pup to the floor when nighttime rolls around. Sharing a bed with your pet can improve your sleeping experience and your bond with your dog, and, with easy-to-change sheets, it doesn’t get much better than that!
For more on keeping your sleep space clean, check out our guide on when to wash your sheets!